Becoming an approved Crown Commercial Service supplier and what it means for public sector organisations
Keystone has recently reached a standout landmark by being accepted as an approved supplier to the UK’s Crown Commercial Service. This allows us to offer our services to public sector bodies and organisations on the Crown Commercial Service’s Framework (CCS) Communications Marketplace (RM6124), as well as through the Low Value Procurement Framework.
What buyers get by using the framework?
Procuring through the CCS Framework makes it simpler and faster for UK Government agencies to commission us to deliver a project, because the route to appoint us is already in place and we are pre-validated as an approved framework supplier. Our inclusion on the framework is a guarantee that we fully meet best practice criteria, adhere to public sector procurement rules and are benchmarked for quality and impact – demonstrating that you will receive value for money for the outputs we provide. We can support you on your projects involving communications strategy, campaigns, community engagement, events, PR, messaging or brand development, focusing quickly on the brief in hand, your target audiences and your desired outcomes.
The Communications Marketplace framework offers a clear way to compare capabilities, invite a focused competition where appropriate, and appoint a team that is already aligned to public sector rules. In short, it is a compliant, low-friction route to get your work started sooner.
We are also approved as a supplier on the Low Value Procurement Framework, meaning that low-cost, low complexity communications requirements can also be procured and initiated quickly.
Why this is important to us?
Becoming an approved supplier shows our dedication to the work we provide as well as the high standards that we uphold. It enhances our reputation as a credible and trusted provider and gives assurance to future partners that our credentials have been assessed against rigorous criteria. Ranging from our delivery capability to our financial stability, it demonstrates our qualities and reliability, ensuring that the public sector can procure with confidence.
Keystone Marketing’s Managing Director, Hayley Williams, said:
“For more than a decade, we’ve helped ambitious businesses grow and community-centric organisations bring people together through meaningful engagement. We do that with sharp strategy, innovative ideas and clear and compelling communication that moves people and gets results.
“This recognition of our quality and services from the Crown Commercial Service is a key step for us. It increases our visibility and provides us with an opportunity to extend our reach and support other parts of local government, arm’s length bodies and public sector organisations – not just in our locality but from further afield from our base in St Neots, Cambridgeshire.”
What we can offer you
No matter your sector and whether you’re scaling up, starting out or building trust in your community, we help you reach the people who matter – and build lasting relationships that count.
Enabling businesses, local government and non-profits to foster true engagement with key audiences and activate their communities sits at the heart of our mission. We’re helping to create a future where meaningful marketing drives long lasting relationships and positive impact for organisations and the communities they serve.
Our strength lies in our people. We’re a team of strategic thinkers, problem solvers and opportunity creators – who apply, our creative minds and curious natures to drive meaningful change. Being inquisitive, conscientious, respectful and outcome driven are values we live by.
Our clients tell us they love our energy, and we aim to bring this positivity into every interaction. From crafting compelling marketing strategies to fostering community engagement, each of us brings a unique blend of expertise and passion. Together, we help businesses grow and communities thrive and now being included on the Crown Commercial Service’s communication framework, means we are better placed to do so across the public sector.
Not only that but we are accredited to the Living Wage Foundation as a Living Wage Employer, are Disability Confident Committed and have joined up with The Ethical Move to make marketing more transparent and responsible.
Proven impact in public sector delivery
Our credentials in the public sector are well defined – with local authorities and government agencies alike choosing Keystone to deliver meaningful community engagement. As experienced engagement strategists, we deliver campaigns, consultations and communications that authentically engage and activate communities – including:
- The Connecting Cambridgeshire team at Cambridgeshire County Council – supporting the imminent ‘digital switchover’ where traditional landlines – using copper wires – will be turned off in place of a broadband connection. Our work to create awareness on a local level is part of a wider national campaign to engage with their communities to inform and be supported through change. For other councils who may not have considered the implications of this change or how to communicate with those affected in their locality, we are on hand – now through the CCS Framework, to leverage our expertise on this subject.
- Environment Agency – using storytelling to lift a campaign from information to action, creating messages that resonate rather than wash over people.
- Merton Council in London – where our co-design principles led to the development of a Government-funded Family Hub brand; alongside local Children’s Services teams to launch and embed the new programme into the communities it served.
Ready for the Keystone magic?
Councils and public sector bodies can trigger a new enquiry directly with Keystone through the CCS portal under RM6124. If you are considering your options for an upcoming brief, we would be happy to talk through the routes and share relevant examples. If you are ready to commission now, the framework is your place to start.
